Inhaler



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'Sheet 1.

C. E. WARREN INHALER No. 393,869. Patented Deo. 4, 1888.

Q? .Z A .K ,d /WN llll Vvj l Vl Q a MW f 2 L/ f h JJ. Q

miner, wasmngwm D, c

(Nolaodel.) A whew-Sheena.

C. E. WARREN.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES EVERETT VARREN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

INHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,869,6.ated December 4, .1888.

Application filed September 13,1888. Serial No. 285,322. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES EVEEETT WAR- REN, a citizen of t-he United States, residing in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Iuhaler; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part ot' this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in inhalers for the administration of pure air, gases, or medicated va-pors to the lungs, bronc hial tubes, and other parts of the respiratory system.

In addition to the ordinary uses of inhalers as receptacles for medicaments and means for applying' the same, the inhaler herein described` is also so constructed that it mechanically and .automatically produces a pneumatic differentiation, there being a free and unimpeded passage of the air through the medicament and then into the air-passages of the respiratory system through the mouth during inspiration, but, on the contrary, during expiration the air being impeded to a greater or less degree at the will of the patient, the pressure ,within the lungs increasing proportionately as the exit of the expired air is impeded.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a central longitudinal section of the inhaler proper and arranged a simple respirator; 2, a central longitudinal section of a portion of the same in a plane at right angles to the plane in Fig. l; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the inhaler in a plane indicated by the line l l, Fig. l; Fig. et, a transverse section thereof in a plane indicated by the line 2 2, Fig. l; Fig. 5, a transverse section thereof in a plane indi cated by the line 3 3, l; Fig. 6, a side View of a portion ot the inhaler, showing the register-ring used on. the outside of the inhaler `for regulating the size ot the air-exit apertures in the tube or case of the inhaler;l 7, a central longitudinal section of the inhaler provided with a medicament-holder in side View, according to my invention; Fig. 8,.a side view of the same; Fig. 9, a cross-section of the same in a plane indicated by the line i 4, Fig. 7; Fig. l0, a side view of the medicament-holder; Fig. ll, a central longitudinal section of the same, constructed, also, as a receptacle to hold a supply of medicament; Fig. l2, a central longitudinal section of the inh aler provided with two medicamentholders; Fig. 13, a central longitudinal section of a bottle-stopper provided .with an inhaler and valve-chamber according to my invention; Fig. li, a transverse section ot' the same `in a plane indicated by the line 5 5, Fig. 13.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The body or case A of the inhaler is preferably a simple tube, as shown, though no particular form is essential, and it is made of hard in dia-rubber or other suitable material. This is applied at one end, a., to the mouth, and the breath of the person using it passes in and out through it. In some part of the tube-generally in its middle part-is located the valve-chamber B, which forms an essential feature ot my invention. Although this valve-chamber may be varied in special construction, the construction represented in the drawings is a simple and suitable one and the principle' of its operation will be clearly understood thereby. At one end of the chamber is a head or disk, b, closely fitting in the inhaler-tube A and having a central hole, c, through it. At the other end ot' the chamber is another head or disk, d, also fitting closely in the inhaler-tube, and having not only a central hole, e, through it, but a number of other holes, ff, through it near the periphery of the same, there being four shown in Fig. 4C of the drawings. y

Formed with the head or disk d, or placed in contact with it, is a part, g, having radial parts reaching to the interior surface of. the inhaler-tube, with holes or open spaces 71 h between, as shown in Fig. 5, and having radial grooves or openings 'L' -L' in its radial parts, as seen in the same ligure. These radial grooves or openings meet in the center of the part and communicate with the central hole, e, through the head or disk d, as shown; but they are closed from any communication with IOO the intermediate holes or openings, 71 f, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. These holes or openings 7l 7i communicate directly with or form eontinuations of the holes ff through the head or disk d. The grooves or openings 1,' 1 eonununicate at theii outer ends, respectively, with holes opening through the wall ot' the inhaler-tube A, whereby air may be expelled from the valve-chamber laterally through the sides of the same. 'lhe holes/'j are opened, more or less, or entirely closed b v a register, preferably in the form ot' a ring', C, closely surrounding the inhaler-tube, as shown, and provided with holes /r 7t','coineiding in position and size with the holesjj through the inhaler-tube, so that the ring may be moved to bring its holes direetly opposite to the holes ot the inhaler-tube and open them to their tull size, or be moved around partially or entirely to one side ot' the said holes ,/"j, and thereby partially or entirely close them. A peripheral slot, Fig. t5, in the ring, titting over a pin, lm, projecting from the inhalertube, serves to guide and limit the adjusting movements ot the register-ring.

In the formation of the valve-chamber l the two heads or disks may be suitably held in proper relative positions by a short intermediate tube, n, fitting closely inside ot. the main tube or body A ot' the inhaler.

The valve D may be a simple thin metallic disk having sot't india-rubber, leather, or equivalenti disks or suriaees o 0, which will tit tightly against the two heads or disks l) d, which form seats for the valve, particularly the disk l). This valve does not: till the whole diameter of the valve-ehamber. It is ot sut'- tieientv diameter to completely Cover the eentral apertures, c e, of the two heads or disks, but not to wholly eover and close the outer holes, fj', through the head or disk d. It is free to play between the two heads or disks as the breath is drawn and expelled through the inhaler-tube alternately.

As deseribed above, the inhaler proper is complete, and its operation may now be illustrated by describing its aetion as a simple respiratortor inttat ing the lungs with pure air. 'lhe end (l having been applied to the mouth ot` the person using it, the inspiration of the breath draws air t'reely through the inhalertube, since the valve is drawn by the intiow t'rom the head or disk I,thereby allowinga t'ree passage through its hole e, while even if the valve is brought into close contact with the head or disk it only closes the central hole, e, and only partially closes the holes ff, so that there is always a t'ree inspiration; but in expelling' the breath t'rom the lungs the valve is thrown back against the head or disk b, and is thereby made to close the hole e through the same, the consequence of which is that the air ean only be expelled from the valve-chamber through the hole e in the disk d, and thence out through the grooves or openings 1'y 1'y and holes j j in the sides of the ;substantially the inhaler-tube. Now, since these holes may be elosed more or less or entirely by the ring C the degree ot' resistance to the expulsion o' the air may be adjusted atl will, requiring more or less power to be exerted by the muscles ot" the chest and diaphragm to etfeet them, thereby etlecting the respiratory results set forth in the foregoing' purposes ot' the invention. So tar as these mechanical rest'iiratory results are concerned, the eiiects are or may be the same whether a medicament is used in the inhaler or not, and its operation is the same with the medicament as without.

The medicament is applied so as to medicate or Charge the inhaled air as it'` comes into the outer end or chamber, p, opposite to the mouth end u thereof'. lt may be deposited or suspended in any suitable way t'or the purpose; but l have invented a very eti'ectual and complete device Yt'or this purpose and make itanadditional t'eatureot' my invention, as represented in Figs. 7 and '10.

The device consists ot' a holder, li, ot hard imlia-rubber or other suitable material, ot' t'orm and construction shown in Figs. S and it, made in the t'orm ot' a plug or stop to tit into the end of the inhaler-tube, and having' ay tiange or milled head, q, titting outside against the end ot' the tube and pret'erably tlush or nearly tlush with the periphery of' the tube, as shown in Fig. lt). The inner eml ot' the plug continues in the form ot' a deep spiral groove, r, with a spiral flange or screw-thread, s', between the turns of the groove, as shown, the outer edge ot the flange or serew-tlncad being' adapted to reach nearly or quite to the inner surface ot' the inhaler-tube, as shown in Fig. 7. The spirally-grooved part ot' the plug may reach inward nearly to, but noti quite to, the head or disk ot' the valve-chamber, so that there will be sut'tieient room t'or the tlow ol' the air between the plug and head or disk, as shown. The spiral groove r is tillcd with some fibrous or equivalent material, with interstices in the same-sueh as cotton, wool, wicking', ortibrous asbestus-as indicated in Fig'. 7. The medicament is placed in this tibrous substance and held there by pervasion or absorption, according to the condition or consistency oi' the medieament; aml as the air is d rawn into the inhaler-tube by the inspiration ot' the person using the inst rumenti iti traverses the interstiees oi the fibrous material throughoutl the length ot' the spiral groove and becomes thoroughly commingled therewith. 'lhen when the breath is expelled rfrom the lungs it is prevented from returning through the outer end ot' the inhaler-tube by the valve l), closing the hole e in the head or disk b, and therefore is expelled through the sides ofthe inhaler-tube, as set lorth in desti'ribiug the operation ofthe inhaler. Therefore the medicament is not made t'oul by the impure breath expelled from the lungs and may remain pure lCO in the inhaler for any desredlength of time. The outer end of the plug E ts tightly in' the end of the inhaler-tube; and in order to provide a Way for the inflow of air into the inhaler while the plug is still in place I provide the side of the plug at intervals with longitudinal channels 2f t in its periphery, reaching not quite to the outer end or flan ge of the plug, as shown in Fig. 10. The outer terminations of these channels coincide in position with holes u u through the sides of the inhaler-tube, so that air iiows through these holes and along these channels to the spiral groove. This construction also fulfills another purpose, since by turning the plug a little in the inhaler-tube the channels t t are moved away from the holes u u, in which position no air can enter themedicament-chainber, and it cannot be dissipated, even if kept in the inhaler between the times of using. Then when the inhaler is to be used the plug is turned back to bring the channels into communicat-ion withthe holes. Marks, as at Fig. S, respectively, on the inhaler-tube and plugI may indicate when the channels and holes are together. Y

It may frequently be desirable to carry the medicament in considerable quantity-more than for a single application in lthe spiral groove of the holder. In Fig. l1 I show the holder formed with a receptacle, c, in its center for holding the medicament in quantity, the receptacle being open at one end and closed by a stopper, w. This does not interfere with its use as the vehicle for holding the medicament for immediate use.

In 12 I show the inhaler provided with two medicament-holdersone fitted into each end thereof and both of like construction.

The operation of the inhaler is the same as set forth above.

The purpose of the two medicament-holders is to employ two different substances for medicaments at the saine time in the two holders, the two being of such a character that when the vapor of one passes'also through the other in the act of inhaling through the in- .haler the two will chemically react on each other, so as to produce acompound gas, thereby acting in the nascentv state.

As I have before said, the inhaler need not be in the form of a tube, nor need it be used entirely alone. In Figs. I3 and 14 I have shown it in the form of a stopper to a bottle or other vessel, which may, if desired, contain the medicament, issuing from it in the form of vapor.

This stopper is lettered to correspond with similar parts of the inhaler-tube above described. The mouth end a may be a short tube projecting from the stopper. No outer register-ring is shown here. The stopper may be conveniently made in two parts, y and z, screwed together, as shown, for the purpose of convenient construction or for getting' access to the interior part of the same.

I claim as my invention# Y v1. In an inhaler, a tube or case provided with a valve-chamber and valve'iinthe same, the said Y valve chamber thereof having through one end or head an aperture adapted to be closed by the valve, and through the other end or head one or more holes adapted to be not closed by the valve, and another hole vadapted to be closed by the valve and opening to grooves or openings leading to the sidesof the tube or case and to holes through the said tube or case, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. In combination with the tube or case, the valve-chamber and valve located therein, one end or head of the valve-chamber having an aperture through it adapted to be closed by the valve, and the other end or head having holes not closed by the valve, and another hole adapted to be closed by the valve and communicating wit-h grooves or openings leading therefrom to the sides of the inhaler tube or case, a series of holes through the sides of the said tube or case, and a register-ring on the outside of the case adapted to open more or less widely ther holes through the tube or case, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. The combination of the inhaler tube or case, the valve-chamberv having a central aperture through one end, a central hole .in the other head or end, and other holes entirely through the last-named head or end, and radial grooves or openings leading from the ceutral hole to the sides of the tube or case, holes through the tube or case communicating with the said grooves or openings, and a freelymovable valve adapted to play between the two ends or heads of the valve-chamber, suby stantially as herein specified.

. et. In combination with the inhaler tube or case, a medicament-holder formed with aspiral groove in its periphery adaptedto hold a fibrous or intersticed material in which the medicament is contained, the intermediate spiral thread nearly or quite filling the interior diam eter of the tube or case, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

5. The combination of the inhaler tube or case, the medicament-holder forming a closing-plug to one end of the tube or case and adapted to be turned in the tube or case, the tube or case havin g air-inlet holes in its sides, and the plug having air-inlet channels leading from the said air-inlet holes to the interior chamber of the tube or case, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

(5. The combination of the inhaler tube or case, the valve-chamber in the tube or case, one end or head thereof having inlet-holes through the same, and an outlet-hole and openings leadingl out through the sides of the tube or case, a valve located in the valve-chamber adapted to'open and close the holes or apertures in the ends or heads thereof, and a IOO IIO

medicament-holder located in one end of the inhnler tube or euse, Substantially as and for The purpose herein Specified.

7. The combination of :1n inhalen' tube or else und two medicoment-holders placed, respeerively, in the two ends of the tube or euse and adapted to eoni'uin two different'r medienlnents or materials, subsfunnlly as und 'or the purpose herein specified. 

